Bergen Catholic (4-0) rode a 13-0 run in the fourth to extend its lead to 54-38 and prompt a timeout by St. Joseph (3-3) with 2:48 remaining.

Beciri scored seven consecutive points during the run, via an inbounds-play layup off a pass by senior guard Brian Ward, a post-up layup off a feed from Jurcevic that became a three-point play, and on a put-back.

"I really think our conditioning and our depth was an advantage for us," said Bergen Catholic coach Billy Armstrong, who rotated 10 players. "So we continue to try to stay with it and wear people down."

Crusaders senior reserve forward Brandon Johnson began the pivotal run with a layup for a 43-38 lead.

Jurcevic scored on a transition drive to expand the lead to 52-38, and sophomore point guard Gilberto Cue closed the 13-0 run with a driving layup.

"We have a deep team," Beciri said, "so we knew conditioning and depth was going to be a factor, so guys off the bench really helped us."

St. Joseph closed the third quarter with an 8-2 run, and came within 41-38 on its first possession of the fourth, when junior guard Andrew McGuire (team-high 12 points) scored on a press-breaking layup.

St. Joseph did not score its second basket of the fourth until 1:51 remained, when junior swingman Patrick Doherty, the coach's son, hit a three-pointer from the right corner to cut the deficit to 54-41.

"We knew that we had a severe height disadvantage, and I thought our kids worked their tails off," St. Joseph coach Mike Doherty said. "We really responded well in the third quarter, and I just think it took an awful lot out of us.

"In the fourth quarter, we had a lot of good looks, a lot of balls hung on the rim, and to Bergen's credit, when those shots didn't go, they made us pay."